Love alone does not guarantee a lasting marriage. Dr. John Gottman’s Seven Principles provide research-backed guidance for couples to build resilience, connection, and commitment before they say “I do” (Gottman, 1999).
These principles include creating love maps for deeper understanding, nurturing fondness and admiration, turning toward each other’s needs, and building shared meaning (Gottman & Silver, 2015).
Premarital counseling incorporates these practices into sessions that cover family history, financial management, intimacy, conflict resolution, and long-term goal setting (Garrett Counseling, 2025). Couples learn soft startup communication techniques, repair attempts, and emotional regulation skills that research links to reduced conflict and higher marital satisfaction (Murray & Murray, 2004; Larsen & Olson, 1989).
When couples build these skills before marriage, they create strong emotional bonds and practical tools for navigating life’s transitions together.
References
Gottman, J. M. (1999). The seven principles for making marriage work. Crown Publishers.
Gottman, J. M., & Silver, N. (2015). What makes love last? How to build trust and avoid betrayal. Simon & Schuster.
Groom, J. (2001). What works in premarital counseling? Journal of Pastoral Counseling, 36, 46.
Larsen, A. S., & Olson, D. H. (1989). Predicting marital satisfaction using PREPARE: A replication study. Family Journal, 15(3), 311–322.
Murray, C. E., & Murray, T. L. (2004). Solution focused premarital counseling: Helping couples build a vision for their marriage. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 30(3), 349-358.
Garrett Counseling. (2025, May 14). Premarital counseling. https://garrettcounseling.com/premarital-counseling/